Annual Report-2023-24 - Flipbook - Page 22
MELODIES OF GROWTH: HOW WYANDOTTE HIGH
STUDENTS FOUND THEIR VOICE
The partnership between Wyando琀琀e High School in Kansas City, Kansas, and the Arts as Mentorship
organiza琀椀on has created a transforma琀椀ve opportunity for students to explore music and self-expression
through the Rebel Song Academy. This program, ini琀椀ated through discussions between KCKPS Board
of Educa琀椀on President Randy Lopez and Arts as Mentorship founder Enrique Chi, was designed to give
students a unique chance to learn from professional musicians.
The Rebel Song Academy’s 12-week program taught
students the art of songwri琀椀ng and empowered them to
express themselves. They learned key concepts like chord
progressions, song structure, and melody crea琀椀on. “What
set this program apart was how it blended music educa琀椀on
with personal expression,” said Jackie Hunt, Wyando琀琀e High
School’s Director of Vocal Studies. Students were encouraged
to draw from their own experiences to create original songs,
culmina琀椀ng in a live performance of their work.
Johan Cuevas, a par琀椀cipant in the program, shared his
experience: “The Rebel Song Academy a昀琀er-school program
was amazing. I enjoyed crea琀椀ng and wri琀椀ng music—something
I never thought I’d do. Being mentored by seasoned
professionals in the music world felt monumental, and I’m
happy to have taken part in something special.”
At 昀椀rst, Johan wasn’t sure if he was a good 昀椀t for the program,
Rebel Song Academy program par琀椀cipant Johan
but a昀琀er wri琀椀ng his 昀椀rst song and playing the piano, he knew he Cuevas plays the piano.
had made the right decision to join the program. “It allowed me to
explore my poten琀椀al and grow as a singer-songwriter,” he re昀氀ected. He wrote “My Mother’s Legacy” for
the program, a song dedicated to his mom, who passed away two years ago. “She was also passionate
about music, and I wanted to honor her memory. The song also resonates with others who have lost
someone at a young age,” he explained.
One of the program’s most impac琀昀ul elements was providing a safe, suppor琀椀ve space for students to
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